“La uva,” he whispered, “está hecha de vino.” Marcela Pérez-Silva told me this, and I thought: If the grape is made of wine, then perhaps we are the words that tell who we are. --Eduardo Galeano, The Book of Embraces
A good place to start writing, either working on your own or with a group, is to write about yourself, including special events, places, and people you’ve encountered along the way. This kind of writing comes in a variety of forms and labels such as autobiography, memoir, diary, journal, or the personal profile, the focus of this first chapter. 1.1 Thought Question
So much of our creative work grows from what we find to be fun, interesting, or important. This special inspiration is sometimes called a “muse.” How about you? What is your muse, or what gets you in touch with your muse? Frida Kahlo said, “I am my own muse, the subject I know best.” Here are others: fire (Shakespeare), libraries (Barbara Tuchman), a walk (Judy Collins). Jot down a few thoughts or examples and post them after clicking on the discussion bubble at the top of this sidebar page. In the "subject" box of your post, write your first name so we all quickly know who wrote the post. Make sure you do this before our next class, Thursday, September 28.
*A note about this composition book: I'm nearing the final draft for a book that my publishing company would like to focus on writing and rhetorical grammar from an intercultural perspective. The names and essays of the student writers throughout this book are fictional but are based on myself as both student and teacher and also on real students I've taught in the United States and abroad. All of the information about cities, countries, educational programs and opportunities, and historical places and people is factual. Chapter One will focus on how to write personal profile papers.
Alyssa Hislop: About my muse
When I first saw this drawing, I could immediately see a story…as I mentioned earlier when I wrote about my muse, art can be perceived in so many ways. So much of the interpretation depends on the viewer of the artwork and their life experiences. The story that I see here is of two lovers who have come together from very different backgrounds. As I contemplate what the artist was trying to portray in this piece of art, I see a boy who has had a life with many tough trials. It is possible that he had an alcoholic father which caused his parents to divorce or maybe he has a hard time trusting people because he has been lied to one too many times throughout his life. He has had to carry the weight of these emotional hardships with him every day. However, he was fortunate enough to meet a girl; a girl who has maybe had a seemingly much easier life. It is possible that she had a very favorable upbringing. Because of this, she has had many opportunities and views life with a glass half full. You could say her positivity and optimism is contagious and this boy caught it. Since meeting her, his life seems just a little bit brighter. Though his circumstances have not changed, his load seems a little lighter to carry. She has become the light of his life and their love is strong and undefeatable. So, as you can see, though it is a simple piece of art…I, for one, see so much meaning and I am able to read a beautiful story.
Paula Arbilla: My Muse I drew this picture two years ago for a friend who was leaving on their mission. This drawing is a recreation of one of their photographs. In reality, you could see land ahead of him but I changed it to make it seem as if he was higher up, almost in the clouds. This could represent a feeling of freedom and openness as he was graduating high school and leaving home to live on the other side of the world for a couple years. His outstretched arms could also represent a willingness to accept whatever may come his way. It's a simple drawing, but it's easy to find meaning in it.
“La uva,” he whispered, “está hecha de vino.”
Marcela Pérez-Silva told me this, and I thought: If the grape is made of wine, then perhaps we are the words that tell who we are.
--Eduardo Galeano, The Book of Embraces
A good place to start writing, either working on your own or with a group, is to write about yourself, including special events, places, and people you’ve encountered along the way. This kind of writing comes in a variety of forms and labels such as autobiography, memoir, diary, journal, or the personal profile, the focus of this first chapter.
1.1 Thought Question
So much of our creative work grows from what we find to be fun, interesting, or important. This special inspiration is sometimes called a “muse.” How about you? What is your muse, or what gets you in touch with your muse? Frida Kahlo said, “I am my own muse, the subject I know best.” Here are others: fire (Shakespeare), libraries (Barbara Tuchman), a walk (Judy Collins). Jot down a few thoughts or examples and post them after clicking on the discussion bubble at the top of this sidebar page. In the "subject" box of your post, write your first name so we all quickly know who wrote the post. Make sure you do this before our next class, Thursday, September 28.
*A note about this composition book: I'm nearing the final draft for a book that my publishing company would like to focus on writing and rhetorical grammar from an intercultural perspective. The names and essays of the student writers throughout this book are fictional but are based on myself as both student and teacher and also on real students I've taught in the United States and abroad. All of the information about cities, countries, educational programs and opportunities, and historical places and people is factual. Chapter One will focus on how to write personal profile papers.
Alyssa Hislop: About my muse
When I first saw this drawing, I could immediately see a story…as I mentioned earlier when I wrote about my muse, art can be perceived in so many ways. So much of the interpretation depends on the viewer of the artwork and their life experiences. The story that I see here is of two lovers who have come together from very different backgrounds. As I contemplate what the artist was trying to portray in this piece of art, I see a boy who has had a life with many tough trials. It is possible that he had an alcoholic father which caused his parents to divorce or maybe he has a hard time trusting people because he has been lied to one too many times throughout his life. He has had to carry the weight of these emotional hardships with him every day. However, he was fortunate enough to meet a girl; a girl who has maybe had a seemingly much easier life. It is possible that she had a very favorable upbringing. Because of this, she has had many opportunities and views life with a glass half full. You could say her positivity and optimism is contagious and this boy caught it. Since meeting her, his life seems just a little bit brighter. Though his circumstances have not changed, his load seems a little lighter to carry. She has become the light of his life and their love is strong and undefeatable. So, as you can see, though it is a simple piece of art…I, for one, see so much meaning and I am able to read a beautiful story.
Paula Arbilla: My Muse
I drew this picture two years ago for a friend who was leaving on their mission. This drawing is a recreation of one of their photographs. In reality, you could see land ahead of him but I changed it to make it seem as if he was higher up, almost in the clouds. This could represent a feeling of freedom and openness as he was graduating high school and leaving home to live on the other side of the world for a couple years. His outstretched arms could also represent a willingness to accept whatever may come his way. It's a simple drawing, but it's easy to find meaning in it.